Casper Police Look For Counterfeiting Suspect; Two Others Are In Federal Custody
Two suspects involved in a counterfeiting case in Casper are in custody, and police are seeking a third.
Police are looking for Samuel Cardona, Jr., who is wanted on two probation violation warrants and the federal counterfeiting warrant, detective Aaron Trujillo said Wednesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cody Hall heard U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Michael Shickich read three counts against him in the same case.
Hall is charged with conspiracy to forge money, aiding and abetting forgery, and making forged money himself. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 45 years of imprisonment, Shickich said.
Hall will have another hearing Friday to determine whether he should remain in custody, Shickich said.
A third suspect, Manuel Moreno, was arrested last month and remains in custody.
The case started May 1, 2016, and continued through August, according to the indictment.
Cardona, Hall and Moreno obtained computers, printers, scanners, copies, ink, paper and degreaser to make counterfeit reserve notes, The supplies were stored at Hall's residence.
Cardona taught Hall how to make counterfeit bills, and Hall perfected the techniques and taught Cardona those techniques, according to the indictment. Moreno printed counterfeit $20s and $50s.
Cardona and Moreno would provide counterfeit bills to people to buy inexpensive items and receive legitimate currency back in change.
The three defendants used the counterfeit money to buy methamphetamine. Some people would receive methamphetamine as payment from Cardona and Moreno to pass counterfeit bills at businesses.
Cardona also gave counterfeit bills to a person to introduce those bills into circulation through that person's work place.
In specific incidents, Cardona and Moreno went to a Walmart in Casper to buy supplies for counterfeiting on July 14, 2016.
The next day, Moreno gave a person a $5 and $20 bill to pass at a convenience store on North McKinley Street. on July 15, 2016.
The indictment also states the defendants possessed counterfeiting supplies in late July and early August.